Laurie Niles

to Laurie Niles.

Cellist Pablo Casals once said, “Maybe it is music that will save the world,” and Laurie Niles believes, “Maybe it is the Internet that will save classical music.”

Thus the birth of Violinist.com, which Laurie founded with her husband, Robert, in 1996. The website offered Laurie the perfect opportunity to blend her skills as a formally trained professional violinist and a former daily newspaper reporter.

Over the past decade, Violinist.com has proven that the Internet can draw together people from all over the world who love classical music, and that it can inflame their passion for it. The site attracts more than 100,000 absolute unique visitors each month, from teens in Kansas blogging about a Suzuki festival to professionals in the Far East sharing practice tips.

Laurie lives in Pasadena, Calif., where she maintains a private studio and also developed curriculum for a unique first-grade violin program in the Pasadena public schools, under a city-funded grant. She free-lances in LA, and has played for the Pasadena, New West, Omaha (Neb.) and the Colorado Springs Symphonies. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University, where she also studied violin.

"Free speech" does not mean that you have to endure the blathering of every crackpot on the Internet.
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As a professional musician, I dread the idea of communities across the United States losing their local music critics. And that appears to be what's happening.
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"Mom, can we get these swim goggles? They are the perfect goggles, I've tried this kind before and these are what I want."

"No, not today. They look like nice goggles, but this is an overpriced resort hotel gift shop, not the best place to buy them."

"But we're about to go swimming, I need them now!"

"The answer is no, we are not buying goggles right now."

"You are totally ruining everything for going swimming. We might as well not go. I'm going to have a terrible time."

...Does this sound familiar? Does Mom give in? Do we reach a sensible solution? Click to find out!
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